On the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, President Bidya Devi Bhandari had earlier issued an ordinance to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act.&nbsp;Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Lilanath Shrestha believes the government has brought the ordinance on citizenship as per the constitution of Nepal and the order of the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

Speaking to WION, Shrestha said, “As many as 45,000 applications was [sic]&nbsp;submitted seeking for citizenships but could not be processed as the law was not enacted as per the provisions of the constitution.”&nbsp;

The ordinance,&nbsp;part of a continued demand of the Madhesh-based parties&nbsp;comes at a time when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is trying to win over the support of Mahantha Thakur-Rajendra Mahato faction of Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSPN).

The ordinance, however, neglects the call of other rights organisations that&nbsp;have demanded equality between a mother and a father in their eligibility to allow their children to become citizens of Nepal.&nbsp;

What is in the Citizenship Ordinance?&nbsp;

The ordinance will allow the children of citizens by birth and children of Nepali mothers to obtain Nepali Citizenship. Children of those citizens by birthright who have acquired their citizenship before September 20, 2015, will be able to obtain their citizenship by descent. Earlier, children of citizens were not able to obtain the same due to federal law.

Similarly, someone born in Nepal&nbsp;whose mother is a Nepali national&nbsp;and the father cannot be identified will be able to obtain citizenship by descent. However, if the father is a foreign national, the citizenship will be subject to dismissal.&nbsp;

Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2006 allowed the granting of citizenship by birth to those who were born within the borders of Nepal and settled in Nepal till mid-April 1990.&nbsp;

In the case of a child born to a Nepali woman citizen married to a foreign national, it is said that if the child has been residing in Nepal permanently and has not obtained foreign citizenship, the person can obtain neutralised citizenship in accordance with&nbsp;federal law.&nbsp;

Earlier, those under the age of 16 could not get citizenship and there was no provision on how the children of citizens by birthright could acquire their citizenship. To address this issue, an amendment was made in Nepali Citizenship Act, paving way for children of those who obtained Nepali citizenship.&nbsp;

What difference will it make?&nbsp;

Lilanath Shrestha&nbsp;told WION that a huge problem has been solved.&nbsp;"People who have been living here since decades could not enjoy property rights or educational rights. The Supreme Court had ordered the government to make changes in the citizenship act and address the problems", Shrestha said.

The ordinance will pave&nbsp;way for a person born to a Nepali citizen mother and residing in Nepal and whose father cannot be identified to obtain the citizenship of descendent.&nbsp;The ordinance has made no amendment regarding the rights of neutralised citizenship.&nbsp;

The constitution states that a foreign woman who marries a Nepali citizen can take the neutralised citizenship of Nepal according to&nbsp;law.&nbsp;

Earlier, a parliamentary panel had proposed an amendment in Nepal's Citizenship Act under which they proposed that a foreign woman marrying a Nepali national would have&nbsp;to wait for seven&nbsp;years to get naturalised citizenship.

Opposition parties, especially the Janata Samajbadi Party criticised the proposal and said Madhesis are being discriminated against in Nepal’s diverse set up.

On the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, President Bidya Devi Bhandari had earlier issued an ordinance to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Lilanath Shrestha believes the government has brought the ordinance on citizenship as per the constitution of Nepal and the order of the Supreme Court.

On the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, President Bidya Devi Bhandari had earlier issued an ordinance to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Lilanath Shrestha believes the government has brought the ordinance on citizenship as per the constitution of Nepal and the order of the Supreme Court. Speaking to WION, Shrestha said, “As many as 45,000 applications was [sic] submitted seeking for citizenships but could not be processed as the law was not enacted as per the provisions of the constitution.” The ordinance, part of a continued demand of the Madhesh-based parties comes at a time when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is trying to win over the support of Mahantha Thakur-Rajendra Mahato faction of Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSPN). The ordinance, however, neglects the call of other rights organisations that have demanded equality between a mother and a father in their eligibility to allow their children to become citizens of Nepal. What is in the Citizenship Ordinance? The ordinance will allow the children of citizens by birth and children of Nepali mothers to obtain Nepali Citizenship. Children of those citizens by birthright who have acquired their citizenship before September 20, 2015, will be able to obtain their citizenship by descent. Earlier, children of citizens were not able to obtain the same due to federal law. Similarly, someone born in Nepal whose mother is a Nepali national and the father cannot be identified will be able to obtain citizenship by descent. However, if the father is a foreign national, the citizenship will be subject to dismissal. Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2006 allowed the granting of citizenship by birth to those who were born within the borders of Nepal and settled in Nepal till mid-April 1990. In the case of a child born to a Nepali woman citizen married to a foreign national, it is said that if the child has been residing in Nepal permanently and has not obtained foreign citizenship, the person can obtain neutralised citizenship in accordance with federal law. Earlier, those under the age of 16 could not get citizenship and there was no provision on how the children of citizens by birthright could acquire their citizenship. To address this issue, an amendment was made in Nepali Citizenship Act, paving way for children of those who obtained Nepali citizenship. What difference will it make? Lilanath Shrestha told WION that a huge problem has been solved. "People who have been living here since decades could not enjoy property rights or educational rights. The Supreme Court had ordered the government to make changes in the citizenship act and address the problems", Shrestha said. The ordinance will pave way for a person born to a Nepali citizen mother and residing in Nepal and whose father cannot be identified to obtain the citizenship of descendent. The ordinance has made no amendment regarding the rights of neutralised citizenship. The constitution states that a foreign woman who marries a Nepali citizen can take the neutralised citizenship of Nepal according to law. Earlier, a parliamentary panel had proposed an amendment in Nepal's Citizenship Act under which they proposed that a foreign woman marrying a Nepali national would have to wait for seven years to get naturalised citizenship. Opposition parties, especially the Janata Samajbadi Party criticised the proposal and said Madhesis are being discriminated against in Nepal’s diverse set up.

What is the new ordinance to amend Nepal Citizenship Act?

Government of the state of Uttar Pradesh have assured Nepal envoy Nilamber Acharya on the safety of Nepali Nationals in the country.

This came after Nepali man's head was tonsured and he was forced to chant anti-Nepal slogans.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-ruling-partys-meeting-to-decide-pm-olis-future-postponed-for-fifth-time-until-sunday-313965">Also read:&nbsp;Nepal ruling party's meeting to decide PM Oli's future postponed for fifth time until Sunday</a>

<img alt="FIR" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3f660770-6594-4d56-9dde-76e6c3fdc39b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/FIR.jpg" />

Nepal envoy Acharya had spoken to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, during which both sides agreed India-Nepal ties should not be impacted along with highest possible assurance given by the latter on the safety of Nepali nationals in the state.

The authorities in the state are fully seized of the matter with an FIR being lodged and culprits being traced. One arrest has already been made.&nbsp;

UP and Nepal share a long and open border with free flow of people.

Government of the state of Uttar Pradesh have assured Nepal envoy Nilamber Acharya on the safety of Nepali Nationals in the country. This came after Nepali man's head was tonsured and he was forced to chant anti-Nepal slogans.

Government of the state of Uttar Pradesh have assured Nepal envoy Nilamber Acharya on the safety of Nepali Nationals in the country. This came after Nepali man's head was tonsured and he was forced to chant anti-Nepal slogans. Also read: Nepal ruling party's meeting to decide PM Oli's future postponed for fifth time until Sunday Nepal envoy Acharya had spoken to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, during which both sides agreed India-Nepal ties should not be impacted along with highest possible assurance given by the latter on the safety of Nepali nationals in the state. The authorities in the state are fully seized of the matter with an FIR being lodged and culprits being traced. One arrest has already been made. UP and Nepal share a long and open border with free flow of people.

UP government assures Nepal on safety of its citizens

In a move that could further weaken relations with India, a key parliamentary panel in Nepal has proposed an amendment to the nation's Citizenship Act that if passed would make a foreign woman wait for seven years to get Nepalese citizenship if she marries a Nepali national.&nbsp;

Even though the proposed amendment is for all foreign citizens, several marriages between Indian and Nepalese nationals take place on a regular basis, implying to many that it is targetting India.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-government-denies-bihars-water-resource-department-from-constructing-embankment-lays-claim-over-land-307583">Nepal government denies Bihar's Water Resource Department from constructing embankment; lays claim over land</a>

Nepal's main opposition parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and the Samajbadi Party (SJP) have slammed the move, saying that such a provision could affect the 'bread and bride relations' that Kathmandu has had with New Delhi for ages.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepals-parliamentary-committee-supports-amendment-in-citizenship-act-parliament-soon-to-start-discussion-307538">Nepal's Parliamentary Committee supports amendment in Citizenship Act, Parliament soon to start discussion</a>

Several women groups also criticised the amendment and said an all-male secretariat should not take a decision on matters which largely is related to females.

This move comes days after Kathmandu approved a Constitutional amendment, incorporating three strategically important Indian areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in its territory.&nbsp;

In a move that could further weaken relations with India, a key parliamentary panel in Nepal has proposed an amendment to the nation's Citizenship Act that if passed would make a foreign woman wait for seven years to get Nepalese citizenship if she marries a Nepali national.

In a move that could further weaken relations with India, a key parliamentary panel in Nepal has proposed an amendment to the nation's Citizenship Act that if passed would make a foreign woman wait for seven years to get Nepalese citizenship if she marries a Nepali national. Even though the proposed amendment is for all foreign citizens, several marriages between Indian and Nepalese nationals take place on a regular basis, implying to many that it is targetting India. Also read | Nepal government denies Bihar's Water Resource Department from constructing embankment; lays claim over land Nepal's main opposition parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and the Samajbadi Party (SJP) have slammed the move, saying that such a provision could affect the 'bread and bride relations' that Kathmandu has had with New Delhi for ages. Also read | Nepal's Parliamentary Committee supports amendment in Citizenship Act, Parliament soon to start discussion Several women groups also criticised the amendment and said an all-male secretariat should not take a decision on matters which largely is related to females. This move comes days after Kathmandu approved a Constitutional amendment, incorporating three strategically important Indian areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in its territory.

Nepal seeks amendment of Citizenship Act; 'bread-bride' ties with India at risk